With the long Pongal weekend in sight, movie theatres are choc-a-bloc with new releases. From Thaana Serndha Kootam in Tamil to The Post in English and Kaalakaandi in Hindi, there are no dearth of choices. Here is a handy guide to all the movies that released this weekend.
Read our reviews and take your pick!
Thaanaa Serndha Kootam: An able and fresh adaptation
For a film that handles topics as serious as corruption, black money, unemployment and suicides, TSK remains a feel good, light-hearted film, tailor-made for the festival weekend.
Read Vishal Menon’s review here
Sketch: Brake failure
Director Vijay Chander’s tale is a predictable revenge drama that pretty much ends up hero-worshipping the protagonist a little too much. Vikram’s enthusiasm on the big screen is largely negated by the lack of originality in the script, which, except for the interesting climax twist, is on expected lines
Read Srinivasa Ramanujam’s review here
Gulaebaghavali: A partly funny caper film
The price of stardom Hansika and Prabhu Deva in a still from Gulaebaghavali
It is a film that tries to evoke laughs, not just by throwing funny characters into a serious plot, but also laughs at itself. However, the problem is that some of these characters are really over-the-top.
Read Udhav Naig’s review here
Mukkabaaz: The punch of the underdog
While sticking to the larger underdog trope of most sports films, Kashyap takes Mukkabaaz away from the time-worn “race to victory” arc and thankfully also keeps the much used and abused false nationalism and flag waving routine away. This is in no way a celebration of sports but a hard-nosed look at the rampant corruption, nepotism and casteist politics at the core of games, and life in general, especially their centrality in Uttar Pradesh.
Read Namrata Joshi’s review here
Kaalakaandi: Lacklustre lives from a megapolis
Kaalakaandi takes place in the matter of one night that unequivocally changes things for the characters forever. The multiple stories device has been used time and again, in ingenuous ways and to great effect, in movies as varied as Amores Perros, Magnolia , Tarantino's Pulp Fiction and more. Kaalakaandi , however, fails to rise above insipidness
Read Namrata Joshi’s review here
Paddington 2 review: Bearly heartfelt
The film is a heartfelt effort to inject a dash of goodness into the world and leave behind a kind message. Like its predecessor, the film’s sequel focuses on inclusion, tolerance and plain ol’ goodness is particularly apt in these polarised times, case in point Brexit.
A scene from Paddington 2
Read Deborah Cornelious’ review here
The Post: A love letter to good old journalism
Journalists are often applauded for the stories that they tell, but in the The Post , they become the story themselves. It’s an unabashed homage to old-school, traditional journalism, where newspaper reporting was paramount, and facts — irreplaceable.
Read Kennith Rosario’s review here
Downsizing: The long and short of it
Clocking in at two hours and 15 minutes, Downsizing is excruciatingly long and slow. Plus, it confuses viewers about the crux of the film.
Read Deborah Cornelious’ review here
Jai Simha: Masala mix works right
It’s an old-fashioned screenplay at the end of the day, the director on his part weaves episodes surrounding chain snatching, illegal medical trade and acid attacks on women to make it more relevant.
Read Srivathsan Nadadhur’s review here
Agnyaathavaasi: Did they have a plan B?
Agnyaathavaasi doesn’t get its act together. There are good actors playing characters that have the potential to be a part of an engaging family drama within the frame of a clap-trap masala film. However, in this, one is left holding on to a stray dialogue/scene that offers a glimpse of Trivikram’s mettle, only to swiftly give way to a limp narrative.
Read Sangeetha Devi Dundoo’s review here
